Spring Arrivals

Spring Arrivals  

Red Winged Blackbird "Redwing" amongst Bald Cypresses in spring

Spring in the Carolinas comes well before the equinox. Some native or cultivated plants such as Jessermine, Redbud, and Japanese Cherries bloom as early as February. Honeybees, Carpenter Bees, Paper Wasps, and Sulphur Butterflies come out when every it is warm (i.e., about 10-15 Celsius or 50-60F) with ample sunlight. Finally, many birds begin singing, courtship, and even nesting in what would be considered midwinter. Spring Migration in our region can begin as early as Mid-February and typically ends in late May when most of the breeding birds are onsite and transients have come and gone. This document is a timetable and overview of how spring migration works in the Cape Fear Region and Southeastern North Carolina. The timings of arrivals and departures, as well as what species can be seen will differ slightly in South Carolina, Appalachia, the Northeast of Carolina (like the Outer Banks), etc. 

Observations of Spring 

Our meadow garden in late April 2016, Blue Flag Iris on left, Siberian Iris on Right

For nearly a year since the pandemic began, I walked around Greenfield Lake in Wilmington NC two or three times of week to observe the wildlife, plant life, and environment for personal studies, and the collect data for a project at the university. I saw this park during the late winter (March 18th, 2020), with the trees bare, violets blooming in the woodlands, and azaleas starting to blossom, for an Azalea Festival that did not occur. From there, I saw the park and lakeshore through the spring, the Carolinian Summer, our long autumn, and through the dead of winter. Because of my life and my tendency to visit different parks, woodlands, and the seacoast, I have never gotten a chance to observe an area for an entire year with regular visits (excluding my own garden of course). At the time of writing this, Greenfield was at the start of another spring cycle. 

Sounds of Spring: In the Southeast of North Carolina, I begin noticing birdsong around Christmastime. Resident Carolina Wrens, Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, and Pine Warblers sing before the winter solstice even arrives. Brown Thrashers, Mockingbirds, Song Sparrows, and even wintering Hermit Thrushes also sing on warmer days. The sound begins to pick up from late January through March with the early singers becoming more vocal, and other resident or even wintering birds adding to the chorus. 

Each morning I open my window of my townhome's upstairs bedroom to hear the chorus and symphony, even if I still have jazz or classical music playing in my room (which I often do at night or while writing). From as early as five in the morning, I may hear the wrens giving their chants "Teacher Teacher Teacher" or "Teakettle Teakettle Teakettle" from the hedge or atop wall separating our dooryard from the common areas. Then I hear the beautiful whistling song of chickadees which have three to six syllables (some song sound like "Spring is Here"). After that, the Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Brown Thrashers, Chipping Sparrows, Pine Warblers, Starlings, and Eastern Bluebirds chime in, while sounds of Canada Geese, Ospreys, Bald Eagle, and Red Shouldered Hawks can be heard from the lake. A Barred Owl or Great Horned Owl may even sing during the chorus with the birds hardly concerned at all. As the season goes on, new voices are added to the chorus, with the Yellow Throated Warbler being among the first spring arrivals in Wilmington NC, followed shortly by the Parula, and preceded (by two-weeks) by the Gnatcatcher. Meanwhile winter residents like the Eastern Phoebes the lives in the neighborhood behind us, very loud Ruby Crowned Kinglet (for a bird only 9-10cm/3.5-4" in size) or White Throated Sparrow's singsongy whistle that is written as "Old Sam Peabody Peabody". 

Visions of Spring: Late winter and spring is an exciting time to observe birds and wildlife as well. In my garden, it seemed like all of the birds came to life overnight sometime in Mid-February (like the 15th or 16th of February). Mockingbirds started chasing each other in the hedge and around the parking lots, Brown Thrashers sung loudly from treetops, and flocks of American Robins, Redwings, Grackles, Starlings, and Cowbirds flew high overhead in a northward. The wrens and chickadees are already looking for crevices, unattended objects, or tree holes to nest in, while the breeding pairs of Starlings returned from migration in Late February (with a noticeable gap between the massive wintering flocks of blackbirds, robins, starlings, and waxwings that descended on the hollies and cherry laurels in January). 

At Greenfield Lake I saw massive flocks Canada Geese thin out as the birds paired off and males defended potental nest sites amongst hedges, coppices, or on treed islands near the lakes. On the third week of March (around the 20th of March), I came across a massive flock of martins and swallows circling over the lake. There were hundreds of birds (I entered 100+ on eBird) with most of them being Tree Swallows stopping for a drink and feed on swarms of midges as the head north. Groups of Purple Martins were mixed in, while I also looked for Sand Martins, Rough Winged Swallows, Barn Swallows, and Cliff Swallows, which often mix in with Tree Swallows. The massive swallow flocks was what I called the start of spring migration, and on the next day, I saw a mass of swallows over my townhome (sometimes flying just above the rooftops). Like at the lake, there were Tree Swallows, and Purple Martins, but I also confirmed my first Barn Swallow (about 1-2 weeks early), and possibly some Sand Martins or even a Chimney Swift. These observations came with other spring behaviors such as cardinals fighting over territories, Ospreys and Eagles doing courtship displays, and massive brawls between the resident Red Shouldered Hawks (and occasionally visiting Red Tailed Hawks) over feeding areas. Before long, the lakefront will be alive with activity again as spring migration kicks in. I can't wait until the Grey Catbirds, Orchard Orioles, Red Eyed Vireos, Mississippi Kites, and other summer residents arrive and for the Common Grackles and Redwing colonies to fill in the trees and marshes along the lakeshore. 

Author Update: On the 22nd of March, 2020, I saw and photographed a Chimney Swift at Greenfield Lake that arrived two weeks earlier than expected. It was amongst a similar flock of swallows and martins. 

About Spring Migration

Spring Migration is an exciting time for many birdwatchers and casual bird lovers, particularly those further north where most of the birds migrate south. In these regions the behaviors mentioned in the stories above, begin later in spring. The Carolinas are under a major migration corridor for songbirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey, although unlike the Autumn Migration Cycle most of the traffic is funnelled along the Appalachian Mountains in Western NC, SC, and into Tennessee. Along the Carolina Coast, Spring Migration is mediocre with most of the traffic consisting of widespread species heading north, or inbound breeding species. We miss out on all of the warblers, vireos, and other songbirds as they move through the highlands, and most hawks also travel inland. While Spring Migration is disappointing in the Cape Fear Region, it is not without its joys. Almost every species of bird that passes through a garden or woodland is singing, we wait eagerly for our favorite summer residents to return, and savor every moment we can with our beloved winter residents before they leave us. At the sea, and along the river systems, things are a bit more exciting, as most shorebirds, seabirds, and water birds travel along our coast. Huge flocks of plovers and sandpipers descend on beaches and mudflats with contain dozens of species. Seagulls, terns, loons, and even seafaring species like Shearwaters fly along our beaches. Wading birds like ibis gather at their nest sites to breed, like the Ibis on the island near Southport NC. Spring Migration is a rather long period for us as it begins in late February when Gnatcatchers and Purple Martins come through, and continues through Mid-May when birds like Orchard Orioles, Kites, and Grey Catbirds are on site, and the last of our winter birds have left. 

Hint: Songbirds often gather around trees that are leafing out or blossoming, so you may see waves of migrants as the canopy fills in. For example Oaks, Elms, and Maples leaf in early, while Hickories and Baldcypress are later. 

Arrivals 

Black and White Warblers arrive well before other spring breeders as they forage on trunks

Black and White Warbler: Often in January, though some birds overwinter too

Blue Grey Gnatcatcher: Can arrive as early as second week of February 

Purple Martin: Often the second week of February

Common Starling: Second week of February (breeding males) 

Laughing Gull: Final week of February or first week of March (some overwinter)

Common Yellowthroat: First week of March (some ovewinter)

Redwing (Red Winged Blackbird): First or second week of March (breeding males)

Ruby Throated Hummingbird: Second week of March (many overwinter)

Yellow Throated Warbler: Usually around the second week of March (some overwinter as well)

Parula: Second or third week of March 

Common Grackle: Third week of March (breeding population)

American Robin: Third week of March (summer population)

White Eyed Vireo: Third or fourth week of March (some overwinter)

Prairie Warbler: Third or fourth week of March 

Whippoorwill: Third or fourth week of March

Barn Swallow/Cliff Swallow: Fourth week of March or first week of April

Yellow Throated Vireo: Fourth week of March or first week of April 

Least Tern: First week of April 

Brown Headed Cowbird: First week of April (breeders)

Sand Martin/Rough Winged Swallow: First week of April

Protonotary Warbler: First week of April 

Red Eyed Vireo: First week of April 

Wood Pewee: First week of April 

Ovenbird: First or second week of April

Acadian Flycatcher: First or second week of April

Crested Flycatcher: First or second week of April 

Chimney Swift: Second week of April 

Indigo Bunting: Second week of April 

Painted Bunting: Second week of April (many overwinter)

Wood Thrush: Second week of April

Black Skimmer: Third week of April

Grey Catbird: Third week of April (some overwinter)

Summer Tanager: Third or fourth week of April (some overwinter)

Yellow Billed Cuckoo: Fourth week of April

Common Nighthawk: Fourth week of April 

Chuck-Wills-Widow: Fourth week of April, first week of May 

Blue Grosbeak: Fourth week of April, first week of May

Orchard Oriole: First week of May 

Green Heron: First week of May 

Departures 

Common Flickers are primarily winter residents in Southeastern NC

Wintering Egrets and Herons: Late February 

Most Waterfowl: Early March

Fox Sparrows: Often Early March

Wintering Robins: Mid-Late March for wintering birds

Mallard: Mid-Late March 

Treecreeper: Mid-March

Purple Finch: Late March

Rusty Blackbird: Late March 

Orange-Crowned Warbler: Late March

House Wren and Winter Wren: Late March or Early April

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker: First week of April

Golden Crowned Kinglet: First or second week of April 

Palm Warbler: First or second week of April

Junco: Second week of April 

Eastern Phoebe: Second week of April 

Common Flicker: Second week of April 

Hermit Thrush: Second or third week of April

Baltimore Oriole: Third week of April (some may stay all summer) 

White Throated/Crowned Sparrows: Fourth week of April or first week of May 

Song Sparrow: Early May (though some could linger)

Chipping Sparrow: First week of May (breeders remain in pinewoods and open areas)

Ruby Crowned Kinglet: First week of May

Myrtle Warbler (Yellow Rumped Warbler): First or second week of May

American Goldfinch and Siskin: First or Second week of May (some linger into summer)

Cedar Waxwing: As late as early June (some linger into summer) 

Migrants 

A shot of a Rose Breasted Grosbeak in our back garden in April 2016,. This is one of the latest birds to pass through New Hanover County during spring migration.

Louisiana Waterthrush: Mid-March to Mid-April

Black Throated Green Warbler: Mid-March to Mid-April

Northern Waterthrush: Late March to Mid-April

Yellow Warbler: Late-March to Mid-April 

American Redstart: April to May 

House Wren: April to May 

Scarlet Tanager: April to May 

Veery Thrush: April to May

Rose Breasted Grosbeak Late April to Late May 

Blackburnian Warbler: May to June 

Blackpoll Warbler: May to June